[Asterisk-Users] G.729 licensing/patent?

[Roy Sigurd Karlsbakk]

> There are two groups of patents related to G.729 (and to other codecs, 
> and to many other signal processing techniques, such as modems). There 
> are patents for algorithms, and patents for signal processing 
> apparatus. The ones about algorithms - generally computational 
> techniques to speed it up - are not an issue outside the US. Even in 
> the US they can generally be sidesteped, by using slower methods to 
> achieve the same effect. The ones covering signal processing equipment 
> exist in many markets, especially most of Europe. Whatever your view 
> on software patents, as soon as you run a G.729 code somewhere you 
> have a physical device infringing those patents.

How can generic PC hardware be covered by a patent? It's just a piece 
of software, that is, algorithms neatly put together with some control 
etc.

roy